Surface chlorination composition



United States Patent 3,236,726 SURFACE CHLORINATTON COMPOSETIQN EdwardJ. Ross, 36 Huntleigh Woods, St. Louis, M0. N0 Drawing. Filed Apr. 12,1963, Ser. No. 272,555 6 Claims. (Cl. 16717) This invention relates toimprovements in surface chlorination compositions and methods, and inparticular is concerned with such a tableted composition that is usefulas a disinfectant for liquid containers that are subject to stain at theliquid surface level on the container and for allied uses in commodesand other sanitary systems.

In the past, chlorination compositions have been employed fordisinfecting and similar uses in commodes and other liquid sanitarysystems in the form of liquid chlorine bleaches generally of sodiumhypochlorite. Such liquid compositions have been disadvantageous becauseof the difiiculty of application and inherent danger in use in thehousehold.

By means of this invention there has been provided a composition,preferably in the form of a tablet, which may be simply employed in acommode as two to three tablets per week. The composition in its tabletform is simple to handle and can be used by relatively unskilledpersonnel with a high degree of efficiency. The tablet consistsessentially of magnesium carbonate, 40% to 70% by weight, which isdispersed into fragments or discrete particles which float in the liquidsurface to provide a protective surface scum-like film at the liquidlevel, monosodium phosphate in the amount of 10% to 30% which acts as aphosphate sequestration agent and solubilizes encrustment and aqueousscales, 10% to 30% of sodium bicarbonate as a basic salt whichadditionally reacts with the monosodium phosphate to provide andliberate carbon dioxide as an effervescent and dispersing agent tofragment and break the tablet up for fast acting operation, and to 25%of a chlorinating agent preferably potassium dichloroisocyanurate.

The above composition made in the form of a tablet can be simply droppedinto a liquid container, such as a commode or other sanitary system, andis dispersed to provide and release available chlorine, which providesdisinfectant and sanitizing action to clean the commode, and alsoprovide a deodorization in the area. As a significant feature of theinvention the chlorine is largely released at the liquid surface levelwhere it is most effective in removing liquid interface stains. Thisoccurs through the fragmentation of the tablet and the collection on theliquid surface of the fragments in the form of a protective barrier orfilm. Residual chlorine is released in the fragmented particles whichfloat in the liquid surface and physically contacts the liquid interfacestains on the container for most effective action. Desirably in somecases the tablet may also be made to float at the liquid surface afterit is dropped in the water for release of the chlorine at the top levelof the liquid in a concentrated layer where it is most effective incontainer or commode stain removal. The tablet is safe to handle and canbe simply employed by the average householder in the domestic sanitarysystems involved, including commodes, sump drains, and the like. Thetablet is safe where septic tanks are used and in concentration use willnot affect septic tank operation.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objectswill appear in the detailed description which follows and will beotherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

The use of chlorine compounds for disinfecting and other allied uses,including that of algaecide, fungicide,

deodorant, germicide, bleaching, sanitizing, bactericide and generalcleaning purposes has been well recognized. The properties of compoundsreleasing free or combined chlorine in aqueous media has been utilizedin various processes. For example, diatomaceous earth cleansers nowincorporate chlorine compounds, both organic and inorganic, forbleaching and sanitizing porcelain bathroom commodes and the like.Alkaline or caustic chlorine solutions have likewise been used forhousehold disinfection and odor control. Usually a 5% chlorine liquidsolution is sold for domestic purposes for laundry and general householdcleaning. The general method of application is to take a gallon jug andpour from 1 to 4 ounces of 5% household bleach into the commode water.If, due to insoluble fats, cellulosic material, and the like, a stain atthe water level persists, a bristle brush must be employed to scrub thebowl lining in order that the chlorine bleach may remove the stain.

Commodes are usually made of porcelain or vitrous enamel andconsequently strong acids are to be avoided. Chlorine compounds are moreeffective and active in acid media and here is a failing of liquidchlorine bleaches. For stability purposes, the liquid chlorine bleachesare made with caustic soda to produce sodium hypochlorite, which isstrongly alkaline but this tends to stabilize the chlorine.

The use of chlorine for commodes and other sanitation systems is highlydesirable and this invention utilizes chlorine in a unique compositionwith inherent safety and ease of application. The tableted compositionof the invention also permits controlled deodorization in a bathroomarea where heretofore mechanical fans situated in walls and ceilingswere required to replace bathroom odors by mechanical withdrawing of theair from the inside and discharging it to the exterior of the room area.

Basically the composition of this invention contains a strongchlorinating agent which is water soluble, but stable and compatiblewith an acid salt such as monosodium phosphate and a basic saltcontaining carbonate or a salt which, when dissolved, will releasecarbon dioxide from solution such as sodium bicarbonate. In addition, adispersible light basic material, such as magnesium carbonate, isdesirably employed to provide, in application, fragmented particleswhich float at the Water level and establish a dispersed film at thesurface level of the commode water to act as a protective barrier. Theuse of the three compounds, the chlorinating agent, the acid salt, andthe basic carbonate salt, will dispense chlorine depending upondisintegration time of the tablet, the temperature of the water, and theamount of material present.

It is extremely desirable to have a relatively high concentration ofavailable chlorine at the water surface in the commode where thechlorine is most effective rather than to have uniform chlorinethroughout the commode water, as most stains occur at the interface ofthe water level and the air space above. These are stubborn stains andrequire in addition to the chlorine bleach a scrubbing or physicalremoval. In addition to stains, mineral encrustments due to temporaryand permanent water hardness compounds in water are imbedded with thestains. The use of the chlorinating agent alone does not remove theseencrustments.

By the use of an acid salt such as monosodium phosphate, a phosphatesequestration takes place and solubilizes the encrustment or scale. Thesurface phenomena cannot be accomplished with known chemical methods andthe addition of a dispersible light basic material which floats on watersuch as magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate, precipitated calciumcarbonate, air floated silica, and the like, can be incorporated todisperse at surface level, release the free chlorine and in a convenienttablet form, eliminate the danger of liquid chlorine bleaches. Aprotective layer of magnesium carbonate remains on the surface whichpermits the chlorine released to bleach away the stains and films at theinterface level. A further advantage in the use of the magnesiumcarbonate or magnesium oxide is the production with the monosodiumphosphate of a phosphomagnesium compound which, in the flushing of thecommode, coats the pipes and the goose neck in the commode and preventsresidual backup odors.

The chlorinating agents employed in this invention may be of inorganicor organic nature that split off free chlorine in the presence of water.A preferred agent is an isocyanurate, such as potassiumdichloroisocyanurate, which is a crystalline solid having a molecularweight of 236 and an available chlorine content of 60%. Other exemplaryorganic compounds that can be employed are dichloroisocyanuric acid andtrichloroisocyanuric acid, 1,3-dichloro 5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, sodiumpara-toluene chlorosulfonamide and N-sodium, N-chloro,para-toluensulfonamide, p-(N,N-dichlorosultfamyl) benzoic acid, whichare exemplary of normal chlorine release agents. Also trichlormelaminemay be employed where slow release of chlorine is desired. As inorganicagents, chlorinated trisodiumphosphate can be utilized as well aschlorinated lime and other compounds releasing free chlorine asavailable chlorine. A typical analysis of chlorinated trisodiumphosphate is over 3.25% sodium hypochlorite, over 91.75% of sodiumphosphate expressed as Na PO .l2H O and under 5% sodium chloride.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention, there is shown apreferred example as Example I. This example, is, however, to beunderstood to be for the purpose of example only and it is understoodthat the invention is not limited thereto.

The above formulation may be very simply pressed into three gram tabletswhich are then ready for use. The tablet may be made to float in waterby incorporating air voids in the tablet or by addition of conventionalflotation agents, as will be well understood in the art.

The tableted composition of this invention can be handled without rubbergloves or protective devices. When the tablet is used in the order oftwo to three times a week in the normal commode, it is simply dropped inthe commode water and the tablet will rise or sink depending upon thetemperature of the water and other physical conditions prevalent, suchas tabletting pressure and the like. The tablet may be allowed to standovernight before flushing the next day. A clean, fresh, residualchlorine odor is emitted and denotes sterility and cleanliness. Onetablet two to three times a week will prevent stain buildup anddeodorize the commode.

The tableted composition can also be used where there are septic tanksor local disposal systems with minor effects on biochemical oxygendemand. A simple convenient method is accordingly provided forprotecting and maintaining healthful and clean commodes and othersanitary systems, while the use of a strong and harsh acid is avoided.Further, the composition is safe for plumbing and can be used not onlyfor disinfection of commodes and sanitary systems, including urinals andsewer drains, but can also be employed for grease traps and sump drainsfor domestic use as well as motels, service stations, hotels,restaurants and the like.

The elfervescence and dispersing action of the liberated carbon dioxideprovided by the acid salt and the basic carbonate salt reaction tends tobreak up the tablet and expedite solubility in cold water. Further, theformulation when compounded can be tableted on two ton high speed rotarytablet presses and made economically in the form of a floating tablet.The tablets have been subjected to accelerated deterioration studies andhave been found to have exceptionally good shelf life. The tablet usedin the normal commode has also been found to have, after two to tenminutes, 100 parts per million or more of residual chlorine at thesurface level. This indicates a high germicidal and bleaching activity.Since most commode waters are from public water supplies, thedissipation of chlorine due to organic matter in the water supply isminimal, and the chlorine compound is stable in cold solution.

In motels, hotels, and other institutions, it has been a common practiceto utilize formaldehyde, muriatic acid, sulfamic acids, detergents andvarious phenolic compounds to maintain health and cleanliness in thecommode systems and other sanitary systems. Many such institutionsadvertise that the commode has been sanitized for their protection. Thehigh cost of such former types of disinfection and sanitation to suchinstitutions has been not in the cost of the material employed but thenecessary labor to scrub the commode thoroughly. Usually,

in the past, a contact time of 10 to 15 minutes has been The fragmentsof the tablets which principally consist of magnesium carbonate as aprotective film can be simply flushed down the commode and leave anadhering film on the pipes and goose neck to prevent backup odors. Aresidual chlorine odor can be detected for a substantial period of timeof from 2 to 6 hours indicating the activity of the composition. Incommodes without seat covers the use of the density controlled magnesiumcarbonate entraps the released chlorine so that dissipation is minimal,while commodes with seat covers provide a longer lasting deodorization.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the composition of thisinvention as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art andas pointed out herein. Such changes and modifications are within thescope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispersible solid disinfectant composition consisting essentiallyof about 40% to 70% by weight of a dispersible light inorganic basicmaterial, a component acting as a phosphate sequestration andeffervescent agent comprising 10% to 30% monosodium phosphate and 10% to30% sodium bicarbonate and 5% to 25% of a chlorinating agent whichreleases available chlorine in water.

2. A dispersible solid disinfectant composition consisting essentiallyof about 40% to 70% by weight of a dispersible light water fioatableinorganic basic material selected from the group consisting of magnesiumcarbonate, magnesium oxide, precipitated calcium carbonate and airfloated silica, a component acting as a phosphate sequestration andelfervescent agent comprising 10% to 30% of monosodium phosphate and 10%to 30% of sodium bicarbonate and 5% to 25% of a chlorinating agent whichreleases available chlorine in water, said chlorinating agent beingselected from the group consisting of potassium dichloroisocyanurate,dichloroisocyanuric acid, trichloroisocyanuric acid, 1,3-dichloro5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, sodium para-toluene chlorosulfonamide, N-sodium,N-chloro para-toluensulfonamide, p-(N,N-dichlorosulfarnyl) benzoic acid,trichlormelamine, chlorinated trisodium phosphate and chlorinated lime.

3. The composition of claim 2 in which the basic material is magnesiumcarbonate.

4. The composition of claim 2 in which the chlorinating agent ispotassium dichloroisocyanurate.

5. A dispersi-ble solid disinfectant composition consisting essentiallyof about 40% to 70% by Weight of dispersible water floatable magnesiumcarbonate, a component acting as a phosphate sequestration andeffervescent agent comprising 10% to 30% monosodium phosphate and 10% to30% sodium bicarbonate and 5% to 25% potassium dichloroisocyanurate.

6. A dispersible solid disinfectant composition in tablet formconsisting essentially of about 57% by Weight of dispersible Waterfioatable magnesium carbonate, a component acting as a phosphatesequestration and effervescent agent comprising 19% monosodium phosphateand 14% sodium bicarbonate and 10% potassium dichloroisocyanurate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,094=2/1-937 Vincent 16717 2,263,948 11/ 1941 Halvorson et al 167182,497,057 2/1950 Pape et a1 252157 2,558,942 7/1951 Ea'gleson 167182,802,788 8/1957 Flaxman 252105 2,815,311 12/1957 Ellis et a1. 167-182,988,471 6/1961 Fuchs et a1 167-18 3,011,863 12/1961 Newman 167-653,123,554 3/1964 Murray 21060 JULIAN S. LEVITI, Primary Examiner.

1. A DISPERSIBLE SOLID DISINFECTANT COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLYOF ABOUT 40% TO 70% BY WEIGHT OF A DISPERSIBLE LIGHT INORGANIC BASICMATERIAL, A COMPONENT ACTING A S PHOSPHATE SEQUESTRATION ANDEFFERVESCENT AGENT COMPRISING 10% TO 30% MONOSODIUM PHOSPHATE AND 10% TO30% SODIUM BICARBONATE AND 5% TO 25% OF A CHLORINATING AGENT WHICHRELEASES AVAILABLE CHLORINE IN WATER.